neja GmbH & Co. KG
The Company
Originally founded as Ortholutions in 2001, the company rebranded to neja in 2023. Over the years, neja has established itself as a pioneer in CAD-based orthopedic technology. Specializing in the development of custom-fit orthoses, neja is committed to helping patients achieve greater mobility and independence in their daily lives.
The company collaborates closely with international experts and patients to deliver highly customized solutions with exceptional technical precision.
In 2016, neja became even more innovative by integrating additive manufacturing into its processes, enhancing both the efficiency and accuracy of their orthotic designs. Driven by a mission to support a more mobile life, neja is a trusted partner in the treatment of scoliosis and other orthopedic conditions. Guided by expertise, empathy and responsibility, neja continuously leverages cutting-edge technologies to craft orthopedic aids that empower patients and prioritize their freedom.
The Challenge
To give their patients the best possible care, neja needed a solution that could meet a few important requirements. First, they required an efficient way to customize product templates to match each patient’s unique morphology, without compromising the integrity of the original model history. Additionally, they needed the flexibility to make local, patient-specific modifications without having to completely redesign the whole model. Finally, neja aimed to create precise, high-quality orthopedic models on a larger scale with minimal manual intervention. This meant they needed a reliable, efficient tool that could handle complex designs while supporting their mission to provide personalized orthopedic care.
ThinkDesign as a Solution
To address these needs, neja turned to ThinkDesign, a solution whose flexibility, precision and user-friendly features perfectly align with the company’s patient-centered philosophy. The use of ThinkDesign has allowed neja to further refine their processes and deliver even more accurate, efficient and customized orthotic solutions.
GLOBAL SHAPE MODELING
One of the key tools transforming NEJA’s workflow is ThinkDesign’s Global Shape Modeling (GSM). This technology enables neja’s designers to make rapid, precise alterations to orthopedic templates at any point in the design process. For a company that relies on predefined models tailored to individual patients, GSM’s flexibility is a game-changer. Instead of starting from scratch with each new orthosis, designers can apply localized, morphology-specific modifications without affecting the rest of the model. The result is a faster, more responsive design process that maintains the integrity of proven templates while meeting the unique anatomical needs of each patient. Moreover, the high-quality surfaces generated with ThinkDesign can be further used by its advanced solid modeling tools or validated through the High Quality Check commands. Specifically, during surface generation, analysis checks can be performed, providing immediate feedback on the quality of the selected surface type.
ADVANCED MESH CAPABILITIES - FULL HYBRID MODELING
Seamlessly integrating solids, surfaces and meshes within a single environment, ThinkDesign empowers neja to manage complex orthopedic models with remarkable fluidity and precision. The ability to import, repair and refine digital models plays a critical role in neja’s approach. With ThinkDesign’s Mesh Repair and Edit tools, neja can ensure that every scanned patient model is clean, accurate and ready for use. These commands allow the team to detect and fix mesh issues - like duplicated nodes or degenerated facets - that could compromise design integrity.
Together with Reverse Engineering capabilities, neja can convert physical scans into reliable 3D representations, ensuring high fidelity from the patient’s anatomy to the final design. This seamless transition between physical and digital not only improves efficiency but also enhances the precision of patient-specific solutions.
Furthermore, the integration of 3D printing brings a major improvement to neja’s workflow. This technology allows for the direct production of highly customized orthotic devices, enabling neja to deliver products that precisely match each patient's unique needs.
In the orthopedic industry, 3D printing offers significant advantages, such as the ability to create lightweight, durable and complex structures that traditional manufacturing methods cannot easily replicate. It also supports rapid prototyping, meaning neja can quickly test and adjust designs. This flexibility leads to faster production times and reduced costs, all while maintaining the highest standards of quality and comfort in the final product.
ThinkDesign plays a crucial role in our digital workflows,
enabling us to streamline and significantly optimize our design processes.
The software’s flexibility and precision have allowed us to create
more accurate, personalized orthotic solutions, improving both efficiency and patient care.
Conclusion
Thanks to ThinkDesign, neja has significantly optimized its design processes, gaining the flexibility and precision needed to create individualized orthoses that meet the highest standards. neja's continuous pursuit of innovation demonstrates how technology can transform both workflows and patient outcomes. By integrating advanced design tools and embracing manufacturing methods like 3D printing, the company has enhanced its ability to deliver highly personalized, high-quality orthopedic solutions. Looking ahead, the company’s commitment to technological evolution and patient-centered care positions it to remain a leader in shaping the future of orthopedic treatments.
